The Beverly Hills Hotel, part of the Dorchester Collection, has opened a complimentary exhibition of rare Elizabeth Taylor photographs by renowned photographer Bert Stern. Located on the hotel’s promenade level, the exhibit is on view seven days a week through Sept. 30.
© Courtesy of Dorchester Collection
Bert Stern’s interest in photography was influenced by his father, who specialized in children’s portraits. Stern left high school in his senior year to join the Army, where he worked as a photographer at a base in Japan. After the war, he took a mailroom job at Look magazine and soon worked under art director Hershel Bramson, who became his mentor. Bramson later helped Stern transition into commercial photography, and his striking images quickly attracted attention from magazines, advertisers, fashion houses and major celebrities, among them Elizabeth Taylor.
Elizabeth Taylor had a long-standing connection to The Beverly Hills Hotel. Her father maintained a gallery on the promenade, and Taylor visited the hotel frequently throughout her life. The iconic Pink Palace hosted several of her honeymoons and served as a regular dining spot where she favored the Polo Lounge’s fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. Following her death, Taylor’s family held a private gathering in her preferred accommodation, Bungalow 5, which has since been renamed Elizabeth Taylor Bungalow 5 in her honor.
© Courtesy of Dorchester Collection
The exhibition was curated by Shannah Laumeister Stern, Bert Stern’s widow and trustee of the Bert Stern Trust. It features 12 large-format images, including previously unseen photographs that capture Taylor during the filming of Cleopatra and moments from her well-documented relationship with Richard Burton. Stern was uniquely trusted by the couple to photograph intimate moments, resulting in deeply personal portraits that reflect their bond.
All images in the exhibition are available for purchase, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting House of Taylor. The show offers a rare opportunity to view iconic and intimate portraits of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars in a setting long associated with her life and legacy.